Composer

:

Olivier Messiaen

Genre

:

Electronic/Computer

Style

:

Electronic/Computer Music

Compose Date

:

1937

Average_duration

:

33:27

Movement_count

:

8

Movement ....

"Fête des belles eaux, II/14" is a composition by Olivier Messiaen, a French composer and organist. It was composed in 1937 and premiered on July 14, 1937, at the International Exposition in Paris. The piece is part of a series of works that Messiaen composed for water fountains, which he called "water music." The composition consists of four movements, each of which is named after a different type of bird. The first movement, "Le Merle noir" (The Blackbird), is characterized by its fast, virtuosic flute and clarinet lines, which imitate the bird's song. The second movement, "Le Rouge-gorge" (The Robin), features a slower, more lyrical melody played by the oboe and clarinet, accompanied by shimmering, cascading figures in the harp and piano. The third movement, "Le Cygne" (The Swan), is a duet for two pianos, which creates a serene, floating atmosphere with its gentle, undulating rhythms and delicate harmonies. The final movement, "Le Rossignol" (The Nightingale), is perhaps the most famous of the four, and features a solo flute playing a virtuosic, trilling melody that imitates the bird's song. The other instruments provide a shimmering, atmospheric accompaniment, creating a sense of mystery and enchantment. Overall, "Fête des belles eaux, II/14" is a highly evocative and atmospheric work that showcases Messiaen's unique approach to harmony, rhythm, and melody. The piece is notable for its use of bird song as a source of musical inspiration, as well as its innovative use of water fountains as a performance medium.

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